Draper drops from Des Moines City Council race

Des Moines businessman Chris Draper has announced his withdrawal from the race for Christine Hensley's Des Moines City Council seat.

Current Des Moines leaders' investments have made the city a "world class destination for the young professionals driving our knowledge economy," Draper said in a news release, adding that future leaders should "focus our investment on high performing communities, not more high rise buildings."

The Ward III seat represents downtown and the city's southwest side.

Candidates for the seat include environmental lawyer and lobbyist for the Environmental Law and Policy Center Josh Mandelbaum, former Des Moines City Councilman Michael Kiernan and Somali refugee and Democratic Socialist Abshir Omar.